Welcoming the 2018 High Hopes Scholars

Welcoming the 2018 High Hopes Scholars

The Berkeley Community Fund (BCF) is excited to announce the award of $400,000 in scholarships to 25 Berkeley High School students.

The group will become part of our High Hopes Scholarship Program receiving financial assistance, one-on-one mentoring and other supports to help them succeed in and graduate from college.

Welcome to the 2018 High Hopes Scholars!

Kendra Bowman, Tuskegee University

Asha Byrd, University of California, Santa Cruz

Alejandra Carrillo Hernandez, University of California, Santa Cruz

Maalena Crawford, Cal State East Bay

Maria Cuautle-Velazquez, University of California, Santa Barbara

Leandro Gonzales, San Francisco State University

Amira Harara, University of California, San Diego

Jaali Henninger Crenshaw, Louisiana State University

Camilo Hernandez, San Francisco State University

Naeem Hopkins, San Francisco State University

Francesca Llorente, University of California, Irvine

Lisette Moreno, University of California, Santa Cruz

Christopher Ortega-Munoz, Chico State University

Briana Remsen, University of California, Santa Cruz

Simelia Rogers, University of California, Santa Cruz

Jayden Rose, University of California, Santa Cruz

Yessenia Sanchez, San Francisco State University

Luis Sanchez Cruz, California State University, Northridge

Tara Shahandeh, University of California, Berkeley

Lulani Sudjian-Lampkin, University of California, Santa Cruz

Jahlil Taylor, Howard University

Kranthiraj Vellanki, University of California, Santa Cruz

Jason Vilchez Alvarado, University of California, Riverside

Aryan Webster, California State University, Northridge

Hanyang Xu, San Francisco State University

The 2018 High Hopes Scholars are planning to study political science, urban planning, business, environmental science, education, criminal justice, and art. The majority will study at the campuses of the University of California and California State Universities. Some will travel out of state to attend Louisiana State, Howard and Tuskegee University. The High Hopes Scholarship Program provides $16,000 need-based scholarships to talented and resilient Berkeley high school students. The financial support helps close the gap between the true cost of attending college and the typical financial aid award. Scholarships are funded through generous donations from the community. The program also helps students successfully navigate the challenges they encounter in college through a critical array of support services including one-to-one mentorship, financial literacy training, transition-to-college workshops, and support from a college success advisor.

In addition to celebrating our newest scholars, we’re celebrating the college graduations of over 20 High Hopes Scholars, our biggest graduating class yet.